By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
As political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Oyo State, a fresh controversy is unfolding within the All Progressives Congress (APC), raising questions about who truly holds the party’s backing and whether some aspirants are prematurely laying claim to endorsements that have not been officially granted.
Members of the Advocacy for Good Governance in Nigeria, Oyo branch, have insisted that no aspirant in the Oyo APC has been formally anointed as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election, despite a series of declarations and public endorsements by leading contenders.
The group’s position comes amid rising political tension between two of the party’s most visible aspirants — former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, popularly known as Penkelemesi, and Senator Sharafadeen Alli, who currently represents Oyo South Senatorial District.
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The political drama deepened following separate public events in which both men appeared to project themselves as the preferred candidate of the APC and, more significantly, as individuals enjoying the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
On Friday, April 17, 2026, Senator Sharafadeen Alli officially declared his intention to contest the Oyo governorship election at an event held in Yemetu, Ibadan. The gathering drew party loyalists and supporters, but it was the performance by Fuji musician Saheed Osupa that amplified the political atmosphere. During his stage appearance, Osupa reportedly praised Alli’s ambition and delivered songs interpreted by attendees as a campaign endorsement, while also taking subtle swipes at the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde.
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At that same event, Alli reportedly described himself as the “consensus candidate” and suggested that his ambition had the backing of President Tinubu. The claim stirred immediate debate among APC stakeholders, many of whom argued that no formal consultation had been concluded within the party to justify such a declaration.
Less than a month later, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, Chief Adelabu staged his own grand declaration rally at the historic Liberty Stadium in Ibadan. The event attracted a massive turnout, with thousands of supporters trooping to the venue in what many observers described as one of the largest political gatherings in Oyo this year.
Adelabu also reportedly declared that he would emerge as the sole candidate of the APC for the 2027 governorship race and, like Alli, claimed to enjoy the support of President Tinubu.
The crowd size at the Liberty Stadium event sent a strong message to political watchers: Adelabu remains a formidable force in Oyo politics, especially after his near-victory in the 2023 governorship election. His supporters have since argued that his popularity, financial capacity, and national visibility place him ahead of other aspirants.
However, barely 24 hours after Adelabu’s declaration, Senator Alli again hosted APC members and supporters on Wednesday, May 13, at Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall, Ibadan, where another set of party loyalists publicly endorsed him as the consensus candidate.
This back-to-back endorsement has triggered intense conversations across Oyo political circles.
The central question many are asking is simple: if both aspirants are claiming to be the consensus candidate, who exactly reached that consensus?
Political analysts say the contradiction exposes a deeper struggle within the Oyo APC — a party still grappling with internal divisions despite its renewed ambition to reclaim power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2027.
Historically, Oyo APC has struggled with factional interests, especially during governorship contests. The party’s inability to manage competing ambitions contributed to its defeat in 2019 and 2023. With 2027 still months away, the emergence of multiple “anointed” aspirants may signal another internal battle that could weaken its chances.
What makes the situation more controversial is the repeated invocation of President Tinubu’s name.
In Nigerian politics, claiming presidential backing often serves as a strategic tool to intimidate rivals and sway undecided delegates. Yet, such claims are frequently difficult to verify, especially when no official statement has been issued by the Presidency or the APC national leadership.
This raises another sensitive issue: are some aspirants merely leveraging the president’s political influence to gain local advantage, or is there indeed a silent endorsement from Abuja?
The Merit Newspaper gathered that many APC faithful in Oyo are becoming uneasy with the growing wave of parallel endorsements, especially as no primary election timetable has been announced by the party.
Some party members argue that if President Tinubu had truly directed party leaders to rally behind a single aspirant, there would not be competing public endorsements within the same week.
The second endorsement of Alli, coming just a day after Adelabu’s well-attended declaration, has therefore been interpreted by some observers as a counter-show of strength — a political response aimed at proving that Adelabu does not enjoy uncontested dominance within the APC.
For the public, the unfolding contest may look like healthy democracy. But for party insiders, it reflects a subtle power struggle over who controls the APC structure in Oyo and who can legitimately claim proximity to the Presidency.
As 2027 approaches, one reality is becoming clear: the battle for Agodi Government House may not begin at the ballot box. It may first be fought within the APC itself, where two men are already wearing the crown of a candidate that the party has not yet chosen.
